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Study behaviour . It was crucial therefore to carefully design the architecture so that the infrastructure would not only be functional , but also act as a catalyst to support positive social change . To achieve this , the station works at several architectural scales . Working within the urban fabric at one end , and at a more tactile scale at the other , relating to the wide variety of station users through materiality and detail .
Interestingly , at an urban scale , humanising the space between buildings doesn ’ t cost anything as this space isn ’ t owned and isn ’ t going to physically be built on . Instead , we take ownership and in our architectural approach sculpt the negative empty space . Abbey Wood has no traditional facades , windows or retail empowering the space , so there are no barriers , backs or sides to the building , which might be perceived as negative . The space in its place supports the growth and movement of people through the area with the station acting as a backdrop .
This approach aims to reunite the communities of Abbey Wood by integrating wide , flowing external stairs splaying out to welcome the public to feel safe and guide users in an open environment . The entrance to the station is grand , and in its materials and structure , warm and inviting . This is due in part to its timber beam roof construction , which draws on the wood-crafting heritage of nearby Lesnes Abbey Woods and the legacy of Willam Morris in Bexley .
Early collaboration
I would argue that to succeed in humanising infrastructure , design and delivery teams need to have a common humanised approach embedded within them . Championing a One Team philosophy , through working to BS11000 ( now ISO44001 ) Collaborative Business Relationships framework was key to delivering a successful outcome at Abbey Wood . Different discipline leads each proposed what they considered to be collaborative behaviours , and that formed the project Charter of Promises which each person signed up to . This truly collaborative approach resulted in not just a station that creates a new and vibrant focus for Abbey Wood but has led to an intrinsic sense of belonging and respect by those who live next to , work in and use the station .
As engineers and designers working together , we have a responsibility to channel the human experience through all aspects of design . Using the example of Abbey Wood and the lessons that can be gleaned for future transport and infrastructure projects , designing in a language that speaks to users , who are often diverse communities , must be the focus . Leaving lasting legacies that have as much to do with the design of space within the station as it does with the space externally between the station and its neighbours . Human experience should be one of the most important factors in design . ■
Jan Kroes feredaypollard . com
Jan Kroes is a Director at Fereday Pollard , a London-based architectural and landscape design practice established since 1997 , delivering inspiring human-focused solutions within engineeringled major infrastructure that combine form and function , while transforming public spaces for social good , and creating landscapes that improve the experiences of people and communities . Fereday Pollard is responsible for prominent schemes , working collaboratively with clients , and project teams in partnership . These include the London Thames Tideway ‘ Super Sewer ’ Tunnel , 2024 RIBA award-winning Abbey Wood station in London , and internationally on the Copenhagen Eastern Ring Road project .
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